Tanzania joins SADC power trading

Tanzania has joined Southern Development Community (SADC) in a move set to benefit the country from trading power through interconnection projects.

Tanzania becomes the 15th nation to join the southern trading block.

Angola, Malawi and Tanzania are the only SADC member states currently not inter-connected via Southern Africa Power Pool (SAPP).

Tanzanian entry into the pool is expected to see it receive power from two projects, namely Iringa-Shinyanga to be interconnected with the Kenyan grid, and the Iringa-Mbeya, which will be connected to Zambia.

The two projects are scheduled for completion in 2018 and 2019, respectively.

Speaking during the SAPP executive committee meeting in Dar es Salaam, Dr Juliana Pallangyo, the deputy permanent secretary in the ministry of energy and minerals said the country would benefit immensely from key projects after missing out to trade power with other member countries for lack of interconnection.

“We are fully committed to the implementation of Zambia-Tanzania interconnector that would see our country connected and benefit from SAPP,” she said.

Tanzania Electric Supply Company Limited (Tanesco) managing director Decklan Mhaiki said that lack of funds, Tanzania has for many years had to suspend inter-connecting power projects.

“But now funds for Iringa-Shinyanga-to-Kenya have been secured and construction will commence anytime, while the Tanzania-Zambia project is currently under feasibility study; the World Bank and Bank of France have shown interests to fund the implementation of the projects,” he said.

“Tanzania is potentially in good position in the energy sector with the ongoing gas discoveries, which will be used to generate electricity,” said SAPP chairman Josh Chifamba.